Thursday, July 7, 2011

Concert Review: Soundgarden Turn Mohegan Sun Into 90s Nostalgia Trip

There were no mosh pits. There was no stage diving. Actually, the only indicent of the evening was a fan coming up short on reaching the stage as security sprang into action. It was a nostalgia trip for many in attendance as grunge-metal pioneers Soundgarden visited the Mohegan Sun arena Wednesday night. Lead singer Chris Cornell mentioned that it's been "at least 14 years" since the band's last tour. He saw many young faces in the crowd and all in attendance were ready to witness one of the biggest names in alternative rock music on their comback tour.

Soundgarden was welcomed with a roaring applause as they took the stage. They wasted no time getting the energy flowing early with their huge hit "Spoonman" and fan favorite "Gun" from their 1989 album "Louder Than Love." Their new song "Black Rain" blended in perfectly with early rockers "Let Me Drown" and "Jesus Christ Pose." Cornell and company slowed the tempo slightly for "Blow Up The Outside World" which found the audience singing along to the chorus.

Being there, it was hard to believe that almost 15 years had passed, as alternative rock radio hits "My Wave" and "The Day I Tried To Live" sounded as good that night as when they were first released. After the experimental rock gem "Hunted Down," the band exploded with an all-out rock assault on the senses with "Rusty Cage" and "Outshined." Soundgarden was less than perfect on the feedback-filled "Black Hole Sun," but closed their set strong with "Superunknown."

The six-song encore was filled with rare and obscure songs beginning with "Room A Thousand Years Wide" and "Face Pollution" from their break-through 1991 album "Badmotorfinger." The band continued down the nostalgic path with "4th of July" and "Like Suicide" before finishing with "Slaves & Bulldozers." The members of Soundgarden exited the stage one by one as guitar feedback flowed out of the speakers as if it was their calling card.

Fans hope that this is only the beginning of the next chapter in the evolution of a band whose bears the burden of sculpting today's rock music scene. Hard rockers Coheed & Cambria opened the night with a 45-minute set of originals, easily making new fans with each powerful blast of music.

Setlist:
Searching With My Good Eye Closed
Spoonman
Gun
Black Rain
Let Me Drown
Jesus Christ Pose
Blow Up the Outside World
My Wave
The Day I Tried to Live
Ugly Truth
Fell on Black Days
Hunted Down
Rusty Cage
Outshined
Beyond the Wheel
Burden in My Hand
Black Hole Sun
Superunknown
Encore:
Room a Thousand Years Wide
Hands All Over
Face Pollution
4th of July
Like Suicide
Slaves & Bulldozers